Portable backpack workstation

ABSTRACT

A portable backpack workstation for holding tools and the like. The backpack includes a self-supporting rigid frame and a shell defining a body having a top, a bottom, a back and left and right wing panels. The left and right wing panels are movable between an open position and a closed position. A pair of shoulder straps are secured to the back of the body.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application. No. 60/821,068 filed Aug. 1, 2006 entitled “Backpack Toolbox” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Professional mechanics and technicians, whether working on automobiles, bicycles, motorcycles or airplanes, or the like, recognize and appreciate the advantages of a well organized workstation for easy identification, selection and access to the proper tools needed for a particular job. The need for organization and visible display of the tools for recognition and easy access is particularly important in racing environments or other time dependent competitions.

In shops, garages or other permanent work areas of professional mechanics and technicians, the work station generally includes a work bench and one or more walls on which the tools are placed and hung in an organized manner. Arranging the tools in such a manner lets the mechanic quickly and easily survey the tools to identify the desired tool. Additionally, hanging the tools in such a manner allows the mechanic to know if a tool is missing or in use by another mechanic in the shop. However, if the mechanic is required to leave the shop, garage or work area in order to work at a remote location, the required tools are generally placed in a conventional tool box with the tools stacked and laid on top of one another. While some tool boxes may provide some means of organization, such as tool trays or the like, the tools are still generally arranged in a haphazard manner within the respective trays. Thus, when a desired tool is needed, the mechanic is required to remove the trays from the toolbox and wade through the pile of tools in each tray until the desired tool is found, often resulting in delay and frustration.

Accordingly, there is a need for a portable workstation that affords the mechanic nearly the same efficiency and organization he/she has in a professional workshop by permitting the tools to be organized and displayed for easy recognition and access.

In addition to the foregoing advantages, it would also be desirable if the workstation could be carried by the mechanic on his/her back thereby permitting the mechanic to have his/her hands free for carrying other tools or items.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the backpack workstation of the present invention in the closed carrying position.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the backpack workstation of FIG. 1 in the closed carrying position.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the backpack workstation of FIG. 1 in the open useable position.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the backpack workstation of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the backpack workstation of FIG. 1 as viewed along lines 5-5 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identify corresponding or like parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the backpack workstation 10 of the present invention in the closed carrying position. FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the backpack 10 of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 illustrates the backpack 10 of FIG. 1 in the open useable position. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the backpack 10 of FIG. 1 showing the various components comprising the preferred embodiment.

The preferred embodiment of the backpack 10 comprises a body 12 preferably having a top 14, a bottom 16, a left side 18, a right side 20, a front 22 and a back 24. It should be appreciated that although the body 12 is preferably substantially rectangular, other body shapes may be equally suitable and therefore the body 12 present invention should not be deemed to be limited to any particular shape.

As best illustrated in FIG. 2, an adjustable waist belt 26 is preferably secured to the back 24 of the body 12 near the bottom member 16. The waist belt 26 preferably includes a wider padded portion 28 for comfort of the wearer. A pair of shoulder straps 30 are preferably secured at one end to the back 24 of the body 12 near the top 14 and at the other end to the wider portion 28 of the waist belt 26. The upper portion of the shoulder straps 30 are preferably padded for comfort of the wearer. The shoulder straps 30 also preferably include a sternum strap 32. Both the sternum strap 32 and waist belt 26 preferably include a conventional quick release dip or buckle 34. A conventional slide-adjuster 36 is preferably provided to permit adjustment of the waist belt 26, shoulder straps 30 and sternum strap 32. Also preferably secured to the body 12 near the top 14 is a handle 38.

As best illustrated in FIG. 1, a front strap 40 secures the top 14 of the body 12 to the bottom 16. As with the other straps, the front strap 40 preferably includes a quick release dip and slide adjuster 36.

As best illustrated in FIG. 3, the pack 10 opens into a self-supporting open usable position such that it can be placed on the ground or other support surface 41. In the open usable position, the body 12 unfolds to form a left wing panel 42 and a right wing panel 44 extending from respective left and right sides of the back panel 46. Projecting forwardly from the bottom 16 of the body 12 is a bottom tray 48. Disposed in the bottom tray 48 is preferably a flip-out panel 49 hingedly secured along one side to the bottom tray 48. The left and right wing panels 42, 44 are preferably supported in the outwardly extending open position from the back panel 46 by support members 50, such as rods, which are preferably received into left and right ends of a receiving member 52, such as a tube, supported at the top 14 of the back panel 46. As such, the support members 50 cooperate with the receiving member to maintain the left and right wing panels 42, 44 in an outwardly extending open position from the back panel 46.

The left and right wing panels 42, 44 the back panel 46, the bottom tray 48 and the flip-out panel 49 all preferably include an array of pockets 54, bands 56, and straps 58 within which various types of tools or other items 60 may be removably held, inserted or supported. It should be appreciated that depending on the size and type of tools or items to be held in the backpack 10, the configuration or arrangement of pockets 54, bands 56 and straps 58 may vary, as well as the type of material used. For example, in some applications the bands 56 may be made of elastic material and the pockets 54 may be made of mesh material, whereas in other applications different materials may be better suited.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, in addition to pockets disposed on the interior of the body 12, the exterior of the body 12 also preferably includes pockets and straps for holding tools 60. As used herein, the term “tool” or “tools” should be understood to refer to any item, article, equipment, object, utensil, ingredient, material or supply useful for a particular purpose. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the body 12 preferably includes left and right exterior zippered pockets 62, 64. Preferably, each pocket includes stretch cords 66 laced between loops 68 for holding additional tools 60, such as clothing, rags, etc.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the backpack 10 includes an internal rigid, yet lightweight frame 70 and an outer shell 80. In the preferred embodiment, the frame 70 is aluminum but any other suitable lightweight rigid materials may be utilized. The frame 70 preferably comprises a somewhat trapezoidal upwardly extending back portion 72 and a forwardly projecting somewhat trapezoidal bottom portion 74 such that the frame 70 is self-supportable in a vertical orientation on a table top or other substantially horizontal surface. In the preferred embodiment, the angle 76 between the upwardly back portion 72 and forwardly projecting bottom portion 74 is preferably less than ninety degrees, such that when the backpack 10 is in the open position disposed on a surface (FIG. 3) the backpack leans or is canted slightly forward. The forward cant, combined with the weight of the bottom portion 74 of the frame 70, along with the weight of the tools 60 disposed in the bottom tray 48 help prevent the backpack 10 from being easily tipped over when in the open position. Again, it should be appreciated that although a trapezoidal shape to the back portion 72 and bottom portion 74 of the frame 70 is preferred, other shapes may be equally suitable, and therefore the frame 70 of the present invention should not be deemed to be limited to any particular shape.

Continuing to refer to FIGS. 4 and 5, the upwardly extending back portion 72 of the frame 70 is preferably received within a complimentary shaped interior pocket 82 of the shell 80. The shell 80 is preferably made of a flexible, light weight, yet durable material. In the preferred embodiment the right, left, front sides 18, 20, 22 are made of packcloth material, preferably 200 denier or greater. For the top 14 and bottom 16 of the body 12, the outer shell 80 is preferably made of an even more durable material, such as ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) to minimize wear on those surfaces as well as to help hold the shape of the backpack 10.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, it should be appreciated that the left and right wing panels 42, 44 together form the left side 18, right side 20 and front 22 of the body 12, when the backpack 10 is in the closed position (FIGS. 1, 2, 5). In the preferred embodiment, the outer interior edge 84 of the right wing panel 44 and the outer exterior edge 86 of the left wing panel 42 come together to define the front 20 of the body 12 of the backpack. The interior outer edge 84 of the right wing panel 44 and exterior outer edge 86 of the left wing panel 42 preferably include mating Velcro® strips to hold the panels 42, 44 together in the closed position. Also, the outer edges 84, 86 of the left and right wing panels 42, 44 preferably include a pocket 88 into which the support members 50 may be inserted when the backpack 10 is in the closed position. As previously discussed, when the wing panels 42, 44 are in the open position, the support members 50 are removed from the pockets 88 and inserted into loops 90 disposed along the top edge of the wing panels 42, 44. One end of each support member 50 is received within a mating end of the receiving member 52 secured along the top edge of the back panel 46 by additional loops 90. Left and right top zippers 92, 94 may secure the left panel 42 and right panel 44 to the left and right sides of the top member 14, respectively. Likewise left and right bottom zippers 96, 98 may secure the left wing panel 42 and right wing panel 44 to the left and right sides of the bottom member 16, respectively. Obviously, various means of securing items together and/or closing pockets may be utilized for each of the above described elements or features of the backpack 10, including zippers, Velcro®, snaps, buttons, buckles, etc. Accordingly the present invention should not be construed as being limited to the specific structure disclosed herein for performing such functions

In the preferred embodiment, left and right tool pallets 100, 102 are preferably removably mounted to the interior side 104 of the shell 80 of the left and right wing panels 42, 44, respectively. Likewise, a back tool pallet 106 is preferably removably mounted to the interior surface 108 of the interior pocket 82 of the back panel 46. In the preferred embodiment, the left and right tools pallets 100, 102 are removably mounted to the left and right wing panels 42, 44 by snaps 110. The back tool pallet 116 is preferably removably mounted to the interior surface of the interior pocket 82 by Velcro® strips 112. The tool pallets 100, 102, 106 are preferably lightweight plastic members that are sufficiently flexible to permit the left and right wing panels 42, 44 to bend or flex when being brought together into the closed position but yet are sufficiently rigid to support tools thereon when the wing panels 42, 44 are supported in the open position.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 5, in the preferred embodiment, the back 24 of the body 12 preferably includes foam padding 114 (FIG. 5) covered by a “breathable” mesh fabric 116 for comfort of the wearer. Similarly, in the preferred embodiment, the surface of the wider portions 28 of the waist band 26 that are adjacent the wearer also preferably include padding 114 covered by that same breathable mesh fabric 116. The foam padding 114 is preferably disposed over a substantially rigid backing member 118. The backing member 118 is preferably secured to the exterior of the outer shell 80.

It should be recognized that the backpack 10 of the present invention has application in a number of fields and for a variety of uses, not just with professional mechanics and technicians. As such, anyone having a need for a mobile toolbox or workstation in which tools are needed could benefit from having such tools displayed in a substantially vertical plane for easy recognition and access using the present invention, including without limitation, vehicle and airplane mechanics, locksmiths, copier and computer technicians, carpenters, plumbers, electricians and other tradesmen, professional or amateur bicyclists and motorcyclists, do-it-yourselfers, and crafters. The present invention could even be useful for carrying tools, such as utensils, and food for a picnic.

The foregoing description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and is provided in the context of a patent application and its requirements. Various modification to the preferred embodiment of the apparatus and its method of use and the general principles and features described herein will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art. Thus, the present invention is not to be limited to the embodiments of the apparatus and methods described above and illustrated in the drawing figures, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

1. A portable backpack workstation for holding a plurality of tools, said backpack comprising: a self-supportable rigid frame having a substantially vertically disposed upper portion and a forwardly projecting substantially horizontally disposed base portion; a shell supported by said frame, said frame and shell defining a body having a top, a bottom, a back, and left and right wing panels which cooperate to define an interior volume and an interior surface area for holding tools, said wing panels being movable with respect to said back panel between a closed position and an open position; a pair of rearwardly disposed shoulder straps secured to said shell.
 2. The portable backpack workstation of claim 1 further including at least one support member to support at least one of said left and right wing panels in said open position.
 3. The portable backpack workstation of claim 1 further including left and right support members to support said left and right wing panels in said open position.
 4. The portable backpack workstation of claim 3 further including a receiving member with which said support members cooperate to support said left and right wing panels in said open position.
 5. The portable backpack workstation of claim 1 wherein said upper portion of self supportable rigid frame is canted forwardly toward said forwardly projecting substantially horizontally disposed base portion such that an angle between said upper portion and said base portion of said frame is less then ninety degrees.
 6. The portable backpack workstation of claim 5 further including left and right tool pallets removably fastenable to an interior side of said left and right wing panels.
 7. The portable backpack workstation of claim 6 further including a back tool pallet removably fastenable to an interior side of said back panel.
 8. The portable backpack workstation of claim 7 wherein said left, right and back tool pallets removably support tools thereon.
 9. The portable backpack workstation of claim 8 wherein said shell comprises lightweight, flexible and durable material.
 10. The portable backpack workstation of claim 9 wherein said bottom of said shell includes a more durable wear resistant material than said back and wing panels of said body.
 11. The portable backpack workstation of claim 10 wherein said more durable wear resistant material is ethylene-vinyl acetate.
 12. The portable backpack workstation of claim 11 wherein an exterior side of said back and said shoulder straps are padded for comfort of the wearer.
 13. The portable backpack workstation of claim 5 further including at least one support member to support at least one of said left and right wing panels in said open position.
 14. The portable backpack workstation of claim 13 further including left and right tool pallets removably fastenable to an interior side of said left and right wing panels.
 15. The portable backpack workstation of claim 14 further including a back tool pallet removably fastenable to an interior side of said back panel.
 16. The portable backpack workstation of claim 15 wherein said left, right and back tool pallets removably support tools thereon.
 17. The portable backpack workstation of claim 16 wherein said shell comprises lightweight, flexible and durable material.
 18. The portable backpack workstation of claim 17 wherein said bottom of said shell includes a more durable wear resistant material than said back and wing panels of said body.
 19. The portable backpack workstation of claim 18 wherein said more durable wear resistant material is ethylene-vinyl acetate. 